Get control over thumbnail orientation of Configuration Members

[Maxim-CADman77]

Software used: Autodesk Inventor 2014 SP2

I’d like to discuss what we consider defect of Inventor (we faced issue on our dataset but I’m going to describe it on a standard dataset).

In some cases it is hard to predict how thumbnail of Configuration Members (iPart or iAssembly) would be oriented.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Install Inventor samples provided by Autodesk (http://download.autodesk.com/us/support/files/inventor_sample_files/Autodesk_Inventor_2014_Samples.e...).

2. Open folder

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2014\Samples\models\Assemblies\Engine MKII\Components\Flywheel\

and witness the thumbnails of three IPTs (their orientation is the same to thumbnail of Configuration Factory Flywheel.ipt – axis is horizontal):

…and this is exactly what user expects.

Now let imagine user have changed his mind regarding desired orientation:

3. Open in Inventor C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Inventor 2014\Samples\models\Assemblies\Engine MKII\Components\Flywheel.ipt

4. Using ViewCube set face that is initially «FRONT» to become «TOP»; rotate model according to new face orientation:

5. Set the view achieved as Home (fit to view) and save the file. After pressing F6 you should get something like this (axis is vertical):

6. Generate all three elements. The thumbnails in the mentioned folder are:

Is it what I’ve expected?

NO!

My expectations (images get by activating each element) ARE:

Hope the difference is clear.

I wonder what should have be done in different way to get the expected thumbnails?

Thanks in advance.

[JDMather]

I didn't check this - but the first place I would experiment with changing the thumbnail is in iProperties.

[Maxim-CADman77]

Our corporate option is the same as Autodesk's default - "Active Component Iso View On Save"

...and this seems the only proper setting for the situation - http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/All-iPart-iAssy-members-are-saved-with-thumbnail-of-a...

[JDMather]

As I indicated - I did not experiment, but my thought was to create the preview and then turn off Save Preview picture once the desired image has been assigned.

[Maxim-CADman77]

Thanks but that can’t be a solution for us.

Mostly because thumbnail should update automatically on each save (nobody wants to keep in mind updating it manually)

[blair]

I always thought the Thumbnail followed the "Home" View

[blair]

I should add, I use the default "Iso View" as well. Not sure why you are getting a view that's not matching up with the "Home" Iso View. Never really gave much thought as they are just thumb views, so we have an idea if the file selected is correct before going through the process of opening.

[Maxim-CADman77]

For us thumb is not "just thumb" - it is the first info people get about
the product in all our corporate systems.

We have several requirements regarding its background orientation etc.

Up-side-down thumbs are definitely not something we are ready to live up
with.

[Paul-Mason]

I'm trying to follow the link - http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/All-iPart-iAssy-members-are-saved-with-thumbnail-of-a... the emil and keep getting

But if I follow the link from the webmail  it OKIs ther a problem with this link or with the site itself??

[Maxim-CADman77]

This is probably my fault.

Try please this url -
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-General/All-iPart-iAssy-members-a
re-saved-with-thumbnail-of-active/td-p/3738872



BTW I've reread that own thread and discovered that another (2nd) option
was helpful in that situation.

Yet it doesn't solve this issue. Result is pretty the same (part axis on
thumbnail is not vertical).

[Maxim-CADman77]

Have just recorded video - https://screencast.autodesk.com/main/details/95a3d5f2-e434-4f15-905c-43ccbdbe57dc.

Could, please, somebody try to reproduce the issue?

[Maxim-CADman77]

Pity that nobody supported me...
Anyway, Autodesk has confirmed the defect ... let us see how long it will take them to provide workaround.

[Maxim-CADman77 · Accepted solution]

Failed to reproduce in AI2017 R3 (build 233).
Seems like been fixed now (hope forever)